The University of Hawai`i Professional Assembly has voted to end its affiliation with the National Education Association, effective September 1. The on the issue Saturday and told members after the vote that the action “has no impact on the UHPA collective bargaining agreement or on any related compensation or benefit.”
The decision generated plenty of debate among the members as 49-percent of those taking part in a straw poll before the vote favored continuing affiliation, while 35 percent supported disaffiliation. In an email to members, UHPA President Adri¬enne Valdez said 13 of the 26 people on
UHPA's board of directors voted in favor of disaffiliation, while 10 voted against the issue. Executive Director J.N. Musto, who supported disaffiliation, said the NEA is not providing anything to the union that it couldn't do on its own.